The Art Stage Singapore fair has announced that it is expanding to Indonesia and will launch a “boutique” art fair in Jakarta in August.

Branding the event as Art Stage Jakarta, the inaugural edition takes place from August 5 to 7 and is slated to feature ca. 50 participants. Leo Silitonga, former director of Bazaar Art Jakarta from 2014 to 2015, has been recruited to lead the newly founded fair as director.

Positioning itself as a smaller, more locally focused fair, organizers hope to engage the bustling Indonesian art scene. Over the years the Singapore fair has tried hard to entice Indonesian artists, collectors, and galleries—with mixed results.

Art Stage Singapore 2015
Photo: Art Stage Singapore

“Art Stage Jakarta will be for the Indonesian art market and the art community there,” founder and president of Art Stage Singapore and Jakarta, Lorenzo Rudolf told Today Online.

“Its focus will be on contemporaray art from Indonesia and the audience we intend to reach will also be more domestic and regional compared to the international audience that Art Stage Singapore attracts,” the Swiss national added.

“Indonesia is the heartbeat of Asia, injecting the region with energy, passion and creativity,” Rudolf continued.

Art Stage Singapore 2015
Photo: Art Stage Singapore

“It is the most active and influential art market in the region and is a leading centre of art production. Aligning our Singapore fair with our new branch in Jakarta, Art Stage Singapore will be able to offer seamless and comprehensive market opportunities as well as the latest cutting-edge content from the region.”

Organizers said that they view the new fair as a long-term investment in one of the most active art regions in South East Asia.

Expansion also makes sense for Art Stage Singapore given the increasing competition in its domestic market. The emergence of Art Apart, and Singapore Contemporary have taken away market share, resulting in decreasing visitor numbers.

Jakarta’s art scene is one of the most vibrant in South East Asia.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons

According to Today Online, Art Stage Singapore 2015 attracted 40,500 visitors, a significant drop compared to the fair’s 2014 edition which drew 51,000 visitors.